business writing skills: techniques for writing in English
Sample pages
A 3. Suffixes â–ş Check out the pages in the Grammar Reference - Prefixes and Suffixes Write the verb from the following words by adding : ise / ate / ify /en Remember - You may have to change one or two letters ! computer simple strength subsidy wide diverse global motive stable threat
Computerise
Write in the noun from the following words by adding : ion / ment / ship / dom / ness / er partner free relation programme aware compensate expand supply fluctuate promote recruit distribute advertise weak manage (2)
partnership
B 3. Modal verbs ► Read carefully the information in the Grammar Reference – Modal Verbs From the table below make as many logical sentences as posible. In some cases only one may be possible.
1. He must 2. He can 3. He could 4. He may 5. He should 6. He would 7. He can´t 8. He must not
go to Paris on Friday,
a)it depends how busy he is. b)as his boss made it clear that he should attend the meeting in Oxford. c)even if the documents are not ready. d) as his boss has given him the day off. e) but he probably won´t, because the ticket is very expensive. f)because he is giving a presentation at the meeting. g)because the CEO will be there. h)as there is an important meeting in Cambridge. i) if he did not have a meeting in London.
Write the letters in the boxes 1 6
cfg
2 7
3 8
4
5
B4. Modal Perfect Read the following sentences carefully. Suggest an alternative modal perfect for the sentences where it is used incorrectly. 1. The sales manager wasn’t at the meeting. He may have been delayed by the traffic. 2. You mustn’t have met the CEO at the conference. He was in Brussels at the time. 3. He looked really tired when he arrived. He should have had a bad flight. 4. He was definitely the best man for the job. We must have made him team leader. 5. It is far too late to send in the application now. You can’t have sent it last month. 6. The flooding in the warehouse last week could have destroyed all of our stock. 7. They bought the land only a year ago and have just sold it to a property developer. They would have made a lot of money. 8. If we had offered our staff a small salary increase, we shouldn’t have had so many resignations. 9. It definitely wasn’t a good idea to release the product specifications so soon. We must have kept the information confidential far longer. 10. You may not have spent so much time on the report. A 2 page summary can’t have been enough.
A 3. Maintaining Focus
In order to help the reader to focus on the text, there are a number of things the writer should do. â–ş Read carefully the sections in the Grammar Reference on Maintaining Focus. Remember the importance of cohesive devices (linking words). You have done some exercises on this in Part 2 of this unit (B 2 and B 3 ) and there will be more exercises in the next units. In addition always consider the importance of word order within the sentence. basic sentence order is :
The
Subject + verb + object + place + time The subject always carries the main information of the sentence. It should not be too long – people can only hold a maximum of about 9 words in their short-term memory. It is easier to remember new information if you can link it to a fact or an idea that is already familiar.
Put the parts of these sentences into the correct order. 1. (for managing a branded product) (The person responsible) ( known) (as the brand manager) (is) 2. (team) (about) ( is concerned ) (of the new range) (of soft drinks) (The sales) (the sales). 3. (of the new product) ( tomorrow morning) (A sample) (which we plan) (will be delivered) ( to your offices) (to launch next week ) 4. ( to place an order) (who use the internet) (rapidly) (The number of customers) (has grown) (over the last six months). 5. (how many) (Please let us know) (usually) (the conference) ( people) (attend) 6. (is) (factor) (do) (What) ( think) (the most important) ( in a televisiĂłn comercial) (you) ? 7. (of the service) (He spoke) (given) (by the advertising agency) (very highly) 8. (as) ( the image of the product) (are not) (very effective) (Price promotions) (they can destroy) (in the long-term)
Write the correct sentences in the table on the next page.
A 3. Read the report in A 2 again. Write the words below opposite the correct meaning in the table. morale / fulfilling / profitability / appointed / commissioned / recommendations / efficiency / flexitime / submitted / implemented
Asked for Given in Suggestions about what to do Giving a feeling of satisfaction The mood as regards confidence Flexible working hours Ability to make a profit Put into practice Named as the successful applicant for a job Working both well and quickly
morale
2010
A 4. You have been asked by your office manager to write a report on the changes you think are necessary in your company (or a company that you know well). Write your report using the checklist ( A 1) and the report in A 2 for guidance. Check the useful phrases below before writing your report.
Report Writing - Useful Language Introduction The purpose/aim of this report is to ….. This report sets out to …….. Findings It was found that ….. …..clearly show/s that ….. Conclusion It was decided/ agreed/ felt that ….. No conclusions were reached regarding ….. In conclusion Recommendations We would recommend that …. It is suggested that …….
Report Writing - Linking Language Adding ideas In addition/ moreover/furthermore Contrasting ideas However, ……. Although ……. Despite/ In spite of …… (+ noun) …….while/whereas …… Making comparisons Both/neither ….. Like/Unlike ….. Linking cause and effect Because of/as a result of/due to/owing to….. This means….. ……leads to/results in
A 3. Review – Present Simple / Present Continuous
A B C D E F G
An activity happening at the moment of speaking. A long-term state A temporary activity happening around now, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking A long-term activity A regular activity (a habit) A fixed timetable A future arrangement
Read the sentences on the next page and put the corresponding letter (from the list above) in the box. E 1. We have a marketing meeting once a month 2. The flight leaves from Heathrow at 6.00 a.m. on Monday. 3. The internet banks are offering an extra 1% interest for the next thirty days 4. She is joining the BBC at the end of the month to work in the production department. 5. The company operates in many overseas markets. 6. We believe that change is essential in an successful organisation. 7. The Managing Director is interviewing someone at present. 8. Although the company has only 25 employees, it belongs to a large international group.
A 4. Review – Noun combinations Put a cross in the box next to the best phrase
1a b c 2a b c 3 a b c 4 a b c
An increase of salary A salary increase A salaries increase Unemployment’s figures Figures of unemployment Unemployment figures Last month’s board meeting Last month board meeting The board meeting of last month Our company´s future Our company future Our companies future
X
5 a b c 6 a b c 7 a b c 8 a b c
The sales target The sale target The target of sales A spending´s review A review of spending A spending review Last year results The results of last year Last year’s results A policy of personnel A personnel policy A personnel’s policy